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Original Iron Man Movie Suit Missing, LAPD Investigating
The original Mark III suit that Robert Downey Jr. wore in the first Iron Man movie is reportedly missing. The Los Angeles Police Department is currently investigating. In 2008, Marvel Studios embarked on an ambitious project in creating the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with Iron Man. Starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Terrence Howard as James “Rhodey” Rhodes, and Jeff Bridges as as the villainous Obadiah Stane, this Marvel comics adaptation would lead the charge in spawning an ongoing franchise that would break box office records, receive critical acclaim, and redefine superhero-based movies.
Over the course of the franchise, Tony created several versions of the Iron Man suit – including the original Mark I model and the Mark XLIV “Hulkbuster” – but his most iconic look is featured in the very first movie: the Mark III. Unfortunately, that very suit is reportedly missing from the Pacoima, California movie prop storage facility in which it was being stored.
LAPD spokesperson Rosario Herrera informed THR that the LAPD is currently investigating the theft, adding that various other items had also been stolen. Reportedly worth up to $320,000, the suit was last seen in the facility in February, but now the suit’s head, chest, leg, and arms are missing. The alleged robbery was reported by the facility’s owners after a routine check, according to CBS Los Angeles. There are currently no leads in the investigation, and the identity of other missing items have not been revealed.
Though there haven’t been any other reported cases of missing props from the MCU, Hollywood is no stranger to stolen goods. Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz were reportedly stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota; one of the titular golden gun props from The Man with the Golden Gun was reportedly stolen from Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England; and several Spider-Man suits from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies (which are valued at roughly $50,000 each) were stolen from the Sony Pictures lot.
Advanced tech is a hot commodity in the MCU. In last year’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, the entire foundation of the Michael Keaton’s Vulture might have never come to fruition had his character, Adrian Toomes, never been tasked with cleaning up the abandoned Chitauri wreckage left behind after the Battle of New York in The Avengers. In the final act of the movie, Toomes attempts to steal Stark tech when it’s being transported to the new Avengers facility. In Iron Man 2, Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer all but steals the entire design and concept of Tony’s technology, manufacturing his own versions of the suit and accompanying gadgets.
KEY RELEASE DATES
Ant-Man & The Wasp release date: Jul 6, 2018
Captain Marvel release date: Mar 8, 2019
The Avengers 4 / Untitled Avengers Movie release date: May 3, 2019
Untitled Spider-Man: Homecoming Sequel release date: Jul 5, 2019
